Oberliga Südwest (1945–63)
The historical Oberliga West took on 20 January 1946 as a major league in the northern French occupation zone, which consisted of the present-day states of Rhineland- Palatinate and Saarland, the game mode. Your name was initially Oberliga Hessen - Saar -Palatinate; with Hesse Rheinhessen was meant. The league initially consisted of ten clubs. 1946/47, also met with clubs from Koblenz, Andernach and Trier to it; now she was made an honorary division, then called North Zone league. In the first six years, the number of participants changed annually, from 1951, the league until their attitude in favor of the new Bundesliga 1963 from 16 clubs.
The clubs from the Saar retired for the first time in the fall of 1946 and again after the 1947/48 season, because of the Saarland Football Association had become independent. Until their return in the season 1951/52, the Saar clubs participated in the French game farm also there but only under restrictions. So had the 1st FC Saarbrücken, who had judged too strong for the Saarland honor League, applied for the second French division, where he had become a large margin to Bordeaux champion, but was not allowed to ascend. It was then rumored that the French Association feared the disgrace, the FCS could be champion of France. 1951 allowed the Saar clubs play again in the big leagues southwest, although their country and their association remained independent.
From February 1946 until the summer of 1950 there were in South Baden and Württemberg -Hohenzollern, the southern part of the French occupation zone, another Oberliga West. The winners of north and south group determined the respective champions of the French occupation zone, which encompassed both areas. 1950 changed the associations of the southern group of the South German Football Association, so that there was only one group from that date.
Survey
The top ranked teams represented the Oberliga West in the German Football Championship, which was held until the introduction of the Bundesliga in finals games. The teams on the last places alighted at the "old" second league.
With the introduction of the Bundesliga Oberliga West was dissolved. The teams who could not qualify for the newly created Bundesliga itself, were assigned to the same extent in their new Regional, the then second highest league.
Seasons
For the Bundesliga was founded in 1963, the first FC Kaiserslautern and FC Saarbrücken first qualified. The remaining teams formed along with the best clubs of the 2nd League West the newly created Regional Southwest.